The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood’s novel, "The Handmaid’s Tale," illuminates the transformative power of storytelling in navigating oppression and preserving personal identity amid societal disruption. Through Offred's narrative, Atwood explores language as a means of reclaiming autonomy and resisting authoritarianism, the enduring influence of memory in preserving individuality, and the pervasive dangers of religious fundamentalism in shaping societal norms. Offred’s private reflections, recollections of a lost past, and covert communications with fellow handmaids also serve as poignant examples of how storytelling ignites resilience and collective resistance in the face of oppressive regimes. Indeed, Atwood’s critique serves as both a cautionary tale against

Under the oppressive reign of Gilead, words are forbidden to the point where store names are replaced with symbols, handmaids are not allowed to converse freely and all forms of games and books are banished from display. This was previously seen during WW2 as Hitler used words and propaganda to manipulate society through newspapers, radio, films, and literature allowing him to exploit fears and prejudices, consolidate power and justify his actions. Atwood expresses this in the novel by using neologism and biblical language such as “Unbaby,” and “Under his eye.” The normalisation of such terms shows the exploitation of power used within Gilead as it provides a limited basis of trust and familiarity amongst its people. Despite these restrictions, Offred’s secret use of storytelling and covert communications illustrates how language can serve as a powerful means of reclaiming autonomy and resisting oppression. Indeed, Atwood delves into the power of language through Offred’s narration; she says, "We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of the print. It gives us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories." The use of paradox and metaphor eludicates how their language is both expanded and restricted; it often allows for interpretation and therefore can be sought